I Stumbled Upon a Blog Post Today
And inside the post, was a simple question.
I nearly wasted my time formulating an answer to place neatly under the blog post.
Anywhere else on the internet, once finished reading an article, one can scroll down, read a few senseless comments praising the author, but for the most part, nobody pays attention to that drivel — not even the author of said article.
On Steemit.com, they do things differently. Steemit.com is where I stumbled upon this blog post I speak of. Rather than writing this up as a comment and talking about it under a blog post, I've decided to write my own post on the topic.
Written and produced by Steemit's very own local master of controversies, @berniesanders:
I've asked many times now and nobody ever seems to have an answer, why would anyone buy Steem and power up just to reward others?
And my answer to that I'd like to share with everyone today is simple:
How much have you spent on entertainment in your lifetime?
The averages dictate $2,504 annually.
The average American spent $2,504 on entertainment in 2010, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported in August 2012. Entertainment spending dropped 7 percent from 2009 as consumers tightened their belts in an uncertain economy. People spent less on concerts, movies and sports events, and fewer visited theme parks, bowling alleys and golf courses. However, at the same time, Americans spent more on home-based entertainment such as cable television, hobbies and pets. source
That amounts to billions, globally, every year. Billions.
Americans spent more on home-based entertainment.
It's now 2019 and much of that 'home-based entertainment' now catches a ride with us, everywhere we go, in the form of a smartphone.
The numbers, the year, the habits of the consumer; it's all irrelevant. The fact is: People spend money on entertainment.
'Spend'
The money, gone, forever.
In 2019, not only do people purchase forms of entertainment, they now donate directly to independent content producers all over the internet. From artists and entertainers, gamers; everyone in between.
That money, gone, forever.
A cheap thrill. Throwing dollar bills at a pole dancer.
So to answer Bernie's question:
People will buy STEEM and power up just to reward others because now, all the money people spent on entertainment is NOT gone, forever.
If you're familiar with how Steempower works, then you'll know, even if you spend...
a million dollars on entertainment in a year, you will NOT be out one million dollars.
Subscriptions, Donations, Onetime Charges
All a thing of the past in the entertainment industry, because of STEEM.
Some folks like to say this STEEM blockchain lacks vision; but are you seeing it now?
Investing. You're now given the opportunity to invest in the entertainment of your choosing. Not in a blockchain, or a token, or a platform, or a technology. Consumers didn't buy into HBO because it has potential, solid leadership, and seems like a cool platform; they bought it for Game of Thrones. They bought it for the content or, without really knowing it, they bought it to reward a content producer(s).
Rewarding a content producer is not a new concept.
Many content producers out there now rely on advertising not of their choosing and donations. You might think something like 'tipping' and donations are the way of the future but if you take a good hard look at the entertainment industry as it stands today, you will know that method of financing content is as old as time itself.
Picture a man in the park, strumming a guitar, singing a song; as the folks walk by, they throw money into an open guitar case. Maybe you heard this as a child on television: "This program could not be here today without the help of sponsor 'A', sponsor 'B' and YOUR DONATIONS to the Public Broadcasting Service. We thank you for your support."
A Snippet of My Mind
Some folks out there will end up spending thousands "donating" to their favorite streamers or content producers. They get nothing in return, monetarily. People seem to think this behavior is the way of the future. I personally think it's idiotic when we have a platform like this place(STEEM). Why throw that money away like these content producers are strippers working the pole when one could simply INVEST in a platform, support their favorite content producers by voting, get a return on their initial investment, plus have the opportunity to pull out with no strings attached at any time. That's like buying a lifelong subscription to HBO, for free, plus you get paid. How is this simplicity consistently flying over so many heads? How is it the professionals here have trouble cleaning up that thought and selling it? That's the future of the entertainment industry right there, in my mind, and it shouldn't be so damn hard to get it right.
I'm a content producer on STEEM
And this is how I've been seeing it since day one.
Day one was way back in late September of 2016.
I've witnessed a lot of folks out there scratching their heads, wondering how to market this STEEM stuff.
Allow the content and content producers to do that. Allow the content producers to SUCCEED and thrive. It's that simple.
Have you ever seen an HBO advertisement? You'll see thirty seconds of clips taken from the content only available on HBO. Nothing about the technology behind HBO. The only thing attracting people to HBO is the content. Youtube, same thing. You went to Youtube because someone shared content from Youtube. Nobody wrote a fascinating Facebook status update detailing how they've found a video platform that has content on it, then went into detail on how they managed to place pixels in front of your eyes; they simply shared the content, you went there, and you being there pays the content producer.
You get nothing
but entertainment.
Entertainment is supposed to make us happy. Would you be happier today if all of that money you spent on entertainment was still in your bank account?
Here, provided you've purchased some STEEM and powered it up, you get paid to hit the "like" button. Millions of people hit "like buttons", daily. It's not a new concept and history shows us people like like buttons.
With that money now invested into content, content producers are then able to increase not only their output but the quality of their craft as well.
Maybe your favorite content isn't the most popular or doesn't have the highest production budget but since the STEEM platform is designed in a way that allows all content producers and consumers to work together towards a common goal of making money, even the things you don't like contribute to your bottom line. So what if I absolutely hated that makeup tutorial. The fact that content producer attracted investors who are interested in that kind of thing and willing to support content producers means they're my new best friend.
Your investment in the content producers of your choice leads to the success of the content producers of your choice, and everyone else involved directly or indirectly, including the entire platform. That's just how it goes under any entertainment industry business model, except now with STEEM, the consumer is not throwing that money away.
Does STEEM lack vision?
Or do we have a shortage of VISIONARIES?
Emulating the competition is pointless, futile. Fearing a new social network on the horizon or viewing it as competition is silly as well because a content platform and all social networks go hand in hand. What would Facebook be without people sharing links to content and what would Youtube be without people sharing links to content.
On STEEM we currently have a shortage of link sharing content consumers. We're lacking the free advertising/marketing potential successful content producers naturally bring to the table. STEEM does not need to set aside money to get the word out, STEEM simply needs to attract more content consumers willing to embrace the benefits of investing in content under this new model rather than throwing the money they spend on entertainment into the trashcan.
Are you currently a content producer on STEEM who heard a rumor there may be a change going into effect where curators could potentially share in 50% of the rewards your content generates? Does that make you feel afraid or ripped off?
Did you know this:
We need to attract those who would enjoy a share of 50%
In my humble opinion.
Instead of a handful of "corporate leaders" taking 50% and becoming incredibly wealthy, here, that 50% still sticks around and contributes to increasing the value of the other 50% that would be yours as a content producer. That's a far better deal than Youtube and honestly, down the road, far into the future (a place where the visionaries look), the way this place is set up, a content producer could easily make bank on a 10% cut provided that content producer attracted enough investors in content.
Today, here, the way I see the situation goes something like this:
From one content producer to another, I just want to suggest you give it more thought and some time. You need eyes on your work and by the sounds of things, this plan could help with that. Right now, too many potential curators choose to be paid to look away (vote selling). The proposed changes offer incentives to get paid to look.
In the arts and entertainment world, these changes are much like offering a standup comedian a smaller cut on a slow night because the venue is offering consumers drink specials. The drink specials are there to fill the house, the performer ends up earning more by accepting a smaller percentage because the seats are full. Had the venue not offered the drink specials as an incentive for people to show up, the performer would have taken home far less money, even if offered the full cut, because the seats were empty.
We have too many empty seats here at the moment. Too many performers, not enough content consumers. Everyone is in the back, waiting to go on stage, to perform in front of an empty house. Back room is packed. Something needs to be done to change that, or we go out of business. I've been saying this now for a very, very long time. If it works, it works. If it doesn't work, it doesn't work. Personally, I prefer to see people succeed. Standing room only. People hanging from the rafters.
Content Producers
You're nothing without an authentic audience/readership/viewership.
Don't be the one who got all dolled up to take a selfie in front of the bathroom mirror for the likes and faux pas generated by the purchased 80000 Instagram followers, only to wipe it all off and replace it with the reality of a fast food restaurant uniform.
Majority of the platforms out there where content can be found find ways to pay content producers. Simply marketing this place as a location online that pays content producers is like saying, "Hi! I'm just like everyone else!"
So, whatever.
Try something like:
STEEM! Where you can spend a lifetime going to work and on the side being entertained enough so when you retire, you can actually do something with your life... or maybe put the grand kids through college.
STEEM! Where you can invest in your downtime and turn that down upside.. down... ? Something like that!
STEEM! That time you didn't waste thousands of dollars on entertainment, but still left feeling entertained, and had money for pizza.
In conclusion:
I think you get the idea.
Have a nice day.
